When Grammar Strikes Hard: Linguistic Factors Affecting Students Performance in English

By Jaime M. Forbes, MAEd*a *Faculty Member, College of Education, Bataan Peninsula State University, Don Manuel Banzon Avenue, Balanga City 2100 Bataan Philippines a E-mail Address: jamesforbes09@yahoo.com The main purpose of the study was to determine the factors that influence the grammar proficiency of the 218 sophomore students in a rural university in the Philippines. The variables used in the study were limited to the student-related factors in terms of gender, family monthly income, grade point average in English, parents educational attainment, attitude towards English, and faculty-related factors such as: educational attainment, number of years teaching English subjects and teaching strategies used in English. The descriptive correlation method of research was utilized in this study. A survey questionnaire was utilized to elicit students responses. Pearsons product-moment coefficient of correlation, coefficient of determination and t-test were used to test the hypothesis. It was found out that the level of grammar proficiency of the student-respondents in terms of morphology is satisfactory while in terms if syntax it is very favorable. Student and facultyrelated variables have no significant effect on the level of grammar proficiency. Hence, it was recommended that the university should adopt a program that would reinforce the teaching of English, particularly, grammar subjects; instructional programs in English should utilize learning experiences and social setting suited to the students background and experiences representing the values of both middle and lower income groups since most of them represent these strata; English instructors should adopt or devise new and more effective teaching strategies for teaching English to make students see the relevance of English to their chosen profession and there should be a specialization in grammar teaching both on the undergraduate level and graduate studies.
Keywords: syntax, morphology, phonology

JAIME M. FORBES is a college instructor at Bataan Peninsula State University, City of balanga, Bataan, philippines. He is the adviser of the student council and at the same time the campus ministry of the College of education. He is a holder of master of arts in education major in Language Education. he is currently pursuing his Doctor of education major in School Supervision. He has been in the profession for almost 17 years. Mr. Forbes is also a local book writer in the different discipliens such as Writing in the discipline, Philippine literature and strategies in health education. He was awarded the best performing faculty in the university in 2009.